ITEM 127-102-R0505 Policy
301.10, Montana University System General Education Core

THAT: The Board
of Regents of Higher Education approves the following:

(1)repeals current Board of
Regents’ Policy 301.10, General Education Block Transfer Policy; and

(2)replaces it with the
attached policy on general education.

The proposed policy on General Education does the following important
things:

(1)clarifies the alternative programs that students can
use to satisfy general education when they transfer between the campuses that
make up the Montana University System;

(2)distinguishes between the so-called block transfer
program and the Montana University System core, two approaches to general
education that were frequently confused and intertwined under the old general
education policy;

(3)establishes a minimum grade in all courses that are
used to satisfy the general education requirement;

(4)creates a General Education Council, made up of
representatives from throughout the Montana University System, to oversee the
MUS core program.

EXPLANATION: The new policy on
General Education was prepared in response to Recommendation 3 of the Transfer
of Credits performance audit. It sets out four (4) different processes or
scenarios that students may use to satisfy the general education requirement,
when they transfer between campuses of the Montana University System.

The proposed policy also creates a mechanism to
continually review and implement the Montana University System Core in the form
of a General Education Council. That Council will be made up of
representatives from throughout the Montana University System, since the MUS
Core belongs to the System, not to individual campuses. Hopefully, the
Council will insure a System-wide perspective, and develop procedures and
standards that maintain consistency in the application and interpretation of
the MUS Core at each of the institutions.

This policy will go into effect immediately upon
adoption by the Montana Board of Regents. The General Education Council
will be established during Fall Semester 2005, to insure appropriate
institutional input into the membership of the Council.